28 Apr Endodontic Therapy
Bacteria can get to the pulp of a tooth when it is either decayed or cracked. The bacterial by-products can irritate and inflame the pulp. It’s harder for blood to flow to the tissue when this happens and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth. The Doctors at Prescott Dentistry understand the intense pain this causes and will do everything necessary to make sure you have a comfortable experience getting the quick treatment you need to feel better.
Endodontic therapy has three purposes:
– Stop the toothache
– Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw
– Maintain the integrity of the original tooth and root to prevent tooth loss
In order to save your tooth, there are several steps in the process of endodontic therapy that Dr. Thompson will perform. To make you more comfortable, a local anesthetic is usually given and some form of isolation will be used in order to keep your tooth clean and dry. A small opening will be made through the biting surface of the tooth to access the tooth “pulp”. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. The infected tissue and/or bacteria are then removed carefully from the root canal(s) and each root canal will be gently cleaned and shaped to allow it to be filled. To help eliminate bacteria, natural antibacterials may be placed in the pulp chamber and root canal(s). You may also be prescribed antibiotics if there are signs of infection that has spread beyond the end of the root(s). The root canals(s) are then filled, usually with an inert, natural rubber-like material called gutta-percha made from various tropical trees. Gutta-percha is very bio-compatible and seldom causes any reaction. Finally, the tooth will be restored with a protective onlay or filling to reinforce it and improve its appearance.
If you have any questions about our dental services in Prescott, Arizona and would like to see how this can be done for you, or if you know someone who could benefit from this procedure, we’d love to talk with you more about it. More info can be found here.